Cartoons based on literature?

[Abras]

Hey everyone,

Now here's an interesting question: have you guys ever run into an animated cartoon that is based on a work of literature? There's been at least one Animal Farm cartoon, right? And Disney did a cute retelling of Ellis Parker Butler's short story "Pigs is Pigs" (http://youtu.be/GYXlF3sa9xs). I'd love to see some more.

Thanks,
Abras

[OrphanPip]

If you're including film I know of a lot.

Two very good adaptations of Adam's novels were done in Britain by Rosen, Watership Down and Plague Dogs are both fantastic movies, better than the novels in my opinion.

Disney did it constantly: Pinocchio, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Lion King (Hamlet), The Little Mermaid, and countless others based on Western fairy tales. UPA also produced a very good modern art inspired animation of the Tell-Tale Heart, a very under appreciated studio.

If you include other forms of animation besides cartoons, there is a decent stop motion version of A Midsummer's Night Dream done by the Czech animator Jiri Trnka.

The Lord Of the Rings animated movie from the 70s isn't very good, but makes interesting use of rotoscope.

I know adaptations of children's stories and folklore are common in Eastern European animation as well, but I've only started recently to explore the work from those countries.

From Japan you have Grave of the Fireflies, which is an exceptionally good example of an adaptation of a novel. There are also countless adaptations of comics and popular novels in Japan.

For English language TV, all I can think of is the Redwall and Watership Down series, neither were very good.

That's off the top of my head, I'm sure there are lots out there if you dig deep.

[aliengirl]

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling was adapted as a cartoon. It was and still is immensely popular in India. I think the cartoon was more interesting than the book at certain places.

[Abras]

I'll take a look at some of the suggestions, guys. Thanks.

[Pensive]

Alice in Wonderland.

[nandakishore]

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling was adapted as a cartoon. It was and still is immensely popular in India. I think the cartoon was more interesting than the book at certain places.

The cartoon, IMO, missed out some of the grandeur of the novel. The animals (especially Baloo) are made to look like comedians, rather than the magnificent characters they are in the book. It is a good movie for kids, but does not compare with Kipling's fantastic narrative.

[OrphanPip]

The cartoon, IMO, missed out some of the grandeur of the novel. The animals (especially Baloo) are made to look like comedians, rather than the magnificent characters they are in the book. It is a good movie for kids, but does not compare with Kipling's fantastic narrative.

Disney in general has very little respect for their source material.